Buying a used 1911.

Brand? 1911s go from $400 to $3k-ish.

Even with a military discount, it's probably NOT not a quality 1911. Used, makes me even more suspicious. The gun may have very well been on someones kitchen table. Know what to look for.... Buyer beware!!

Oh no. I would tell people to go ahead and try the Taurus, I hear good things about them, but that's not much less than a new one. Look around.

400 bucks is a good deal for a Taurus I think new ones range form 500-650 dollars and used ones range from 4-500 dollars. I have shot a few of those Taurus 1911s and they are pretty nice for the money. I don't know why more 1911 makers can't add front strap checkering to their entry models like Taurus does. I would probably buy a Taurus if it wasn't for my love of Kimbers.
You up at Minot?

If it is a taurus pt1911 and the internals look ok i would say thats a decent deal. However, i dont ever remember seeing regular GI sights on the pt1911...most of them come with either 3-dot novaks (like mine did) or Straight-8 Heine Sights. However, budsgunshop has new blued models for $519! http://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/product_info.php/cPath/21_50_495/products_id/17285

I have a pt1911 AR, and have shot kimbers, dan wessons, and other high-end 1911's and I have to say...There is def. a difference between the two, but to me that difference is not worth the extra 600-700 bucks. THe pt1911 comes fully stocked with all the features most ppl spend hundreds on to upgrade their GI stock 1911. The trigger on mine is absolutely awesome, its my favorite of all my pistols. Thats just me, my gun has been flawless for about 400 rounds using all types of fmj and hp .45 ammo.

Do a web search for "buying a used 1911", there's a TON of info out there.

CSballer89 25 years ago I bought a use Colt 1911 for what they want to sell you a Taurus for today since it is a shop is it also a Range ?
If so see if they will let you shoot it prior to buying it Or give you a 3 day no questions asked return policy and run at least 50 rounds through it .

That Colt I bought was a total nightmare at first as the previous owner had butchered the feed and barrel ramps and it wouldn't even make it through a magazine of harball until I had a Gunsmith make it right costing over a hundred bucks back then .

Look at the ramps and if they have serious scratches in them leave it alone Also check for slide to frame play if it is excessive leave it be unless you want to pay a Smith to fix it .

Ask to see a few new 1911's and check their slide to frame play and ramps to get a feel for what the Taurus should be like .

I'll second the barrel and frame feed ramp. If it's been so much as polished I'd pass. It doesn't need polishing, and whoever did it was MUCH more likely to have done more harm than good. Polished feed ramps also indicate that the gun had some other problem that was "fixed" at the kitchen table, leaving the gun with a botched frame and whatever problem it had before. More likely the original problem was an extractor or magazine quality.

I wouldn't worry too much about the slide to frame fit, unless it's just horrible.

They seem nice and don't appear to be trying to screw anyone out of money. CSballer89

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I am sure thats true CS but not every FFL dealer is a gunsmith and those that don't have a range on the property as a rule don't take the used guns they buy or take as trade in a deal out to a commercial range and pay to shoot hundreds of round through them so they can give any Prospective buyer a "Full actual and honest report" as to how each gun works especially the Semiautos since they are the weapons of choice by the public these days .


Thats why I suggest you at least get in writing a 3 day return and get it out and try it with a few hundred rounds in those 3 days .

Even nice guys will sell you things strictly "As is" and when you go to return a problem purchased item to them they'll expect that you Understood that as a used item it was sold "AS IS" Places often have signs hung up in plain site that you completely missed as in all the excitement of getting a good deal on a nice gun you didn't pay attention and look around for such a sign .

If you get a gun with problems and are willing to spend the Money on having it fixed , alls good as my Colt was a fantastic weapon after I had it fixed and loved it for years , but it would have been nice if the shop had known and told me about it's problems before I bought it as I was just basically still a ignorant kid at 21 buying my first 1911 .

The other posters may be right about the Taurus 1911, but I've seen too many problems with guns by that manufacturer over the years to trust them.

You can buy a new Springfield for less than $200 more. Both the mil-spec and the compact (even in stainless!) go for less than $600.